Stoker



M. ALPERN. SToKER.

Jan. 23, 1923.

4M. ALPERN STOKER. F LED JULY 24, 1 920.

Jan. 21?, 1923.

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uw mN M. ALPERN Jan. 23,- 1923.

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7 SHEETS-SHEET 7 Patented Jan. 23, 1923.

YUNITE-of srATss PATENT carica.

i MAXWELL ALPERN, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A SSIGNOR TO AMERICANENGINEERING COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, .A CORPORATION orPENNSYLVANIA.

STOKER.

Application. filed July 24,

To all 'who/m, t may concern.'

Be it known that I, MAXWELL ALrunN, a citizen of ,the United States,residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented the Stoker, oil"which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to automatic stokers olf' the inclined underfeedtype and morel particularly has to do with improvements in the partsconstituting the air bon, the tuel feeding` means and the mounting forthe rates.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel construction andarrangement of reciprocating pushers for feeding the fuel in anautomatic stolzer whereby the rate at which the fuel isadvancedinto thefurnace may be adjusted at any of a number or' different points between.a hopper or other source or' supply and the rear end oit the furnace.

The invention further contemplates a novel construction and arrangementof the parts'o'f the structure for confining the air prior to itsdelivery to the tuyres, whereby it is possible to prevent leakage or"air from said structure into the fuel hopper and a consequent blowing`of gas, smoke, etc., through the saine into the tiro roonx.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel means forfastening)- in place the extension grates as well as other associatedparts of a stolzer of the above type so that they may be convenientlyand quickly removed or replaced.

These objects and other advantageous ends I attain as' hereinafter setforth, reiterence bei: had to the :recomprauying draw- 40 ings, inwhich, l

L. 1 is a plan partly .i tic stolrer of the in bodying my inv: one 4beine,` 'removed and part oi one of 5 the retorts and a ioi'tion ot itsiuel feeding mechanism being); shown in lnnizontal soction talren on theline l---l, 2 extending through one of the hydraulic cylinders;

`Fig. 2 is a vertical section ou the line 2-2, Fig. 1; v

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the hoppers and cylinders, together withtheir associated parts;

Figa is a transverse vertical sect-ion on 'the detail construction andarrangement oit` 1920. Serial No. 398,726.

a side frame structure, two of whose niem.

bers are indicated at 4.- (Fig. 3). The beams 1 and 2 are connected by asuitable number of beams' 5 extending;` between them from front to rearand serving to support the concrete or other bottom structure 6 of thewind box 7.

rlhe 'furnace to which the stoker is ap- `plied includes a settingy orcasing whose front is indicated at S and one oi whose sides is indicatedat 9, a bridge wall 10 defining the rear of said furnace. Between thefront beam 1 and the front 8 of the i`urnace casing are mounted parallellaterally extending trame members in the shape of rolled sections 11 andl2 and between the lower of these and said 'trame member 1 are a seriesof plates 13 definingthe lower part of the liront olI the Stokerstructure and more especially of the wind box.

Supported by the two members 11 and 12 are a series of forwardlyprojecting cylin- 1rical casing structures 14; each of which has openinginto the top of its inner end, immediately adjacent the iront tace ofthe casing` 8, a fuel hopper 15. A longitudinally movable hydrauliccylinder 16 is operative within each of the casings le and has a ixedcooperating piston 1T connected by a rod 18 to the Jonward or outer endof the casing structure 11i. cylinder 16 is also lde-- signed to serve aram or pusher for transterrinp,` the 'fuel `from thc hopper to itsIassociated retort, and is movable in the casing; structure 14 from aposition in which ,its forward end is in front of the opening from thebottom olf' the hopper l5, to a position to the rear of said hopper.

Within the furnace chamber and extendingfrom front to rear is mounted aseries of parallel beams 19 whose rear ends (Fig.

loo

2) rast upon and and are supported by the trame members 2 andwhoseforward ends are. bolted to and carried by the inclined l edgesoi." .plate brackets 20, proj ectinpg` inwardly 'from `the members lland 12. The brackets ot each pair support and :iro con` nected by anupwardly and rearwardly inclined top plate 20"' forming with themmouth-pieces whose forward ends open into the'casii gs 14. respectively.The beams 19 are so arranged (Figs. 4; and to define relatively narrowvertical chambers 21 constituting rctorts haring between them largerchambers whose lower portions 'form exten sions of the wind box 7 whiletheir top portions are respectively covered by downwardly and'v.rearwardly inclined series ot tuyres 22.

Plates 201 extend transversely between the rear edges of the members Q0at the toiavard ends of the wind box extensions on both sides ol eachretort so that there is no possibility of air under pressure leakingldirectly trom the windbox into the casingi's lll or lower parts olt the:fuel hoppers.

Each set of tuyeres is supported ,in a stepped series by castings 23bolted to and rigidly connecting` each pair ol' adjacent beams 19 whichifor this purpose are pro vided with suitable projections or flanges,and said tuyeres have the usual imssagesor channels through which airunder pressure is permittedto flow from the wind box into the furnace. n

At the bottom ol each set oli tuyeres and at the rear or inner end ofeach olf' the retorts is a line of plates 24 extending: transversely oithe furnace and havingr theirl top portions; lush with bottom plates 25and Q6 constituting the rear end or" the bottom of each retort. Theseplates are rigidly secured to and carried by lugs 27 projecting -fromthe beams 19 (Fig. fl) and the rear edge or end of each of the plates 25has the form oi a recess or socket having an overhung top edge 28 and atransverse rib29.

The various plates 24 are so formed that their :forward edges are desined to fit under the overhang edges 28. of theplates. they are providedwith openings tor ception of keys 30 which', after dl i .1.. h" ve beenput in place as indicated iu F fr be inserted through said openings in'Front of the ribs 29 so to retain each ot .the plates 24 in place.

The main portion ol the bottom of each ofthe retorts is provided by oneor more longitudinally iuovable, secondary pushers. of which in thepresent case there are three indicated at 3Q. S3, and 34e. mounted oneabove the` other in each retort. The first ol these secondary pushers32, as sho-wn in Figs.' 2 and 7,4 has a flat bottom forming; acontinuation of and at the same level as the straight transverse `lip 35projecting from the lower portion ofthe rear flat. face of the hydraulicplunger or ram 16 and it is movable longitudinally within the mouthpiece associated with said ram, being' supported and slidable on ai pairof guides. provided by inwardly projecting ribs 3G integral with theadjacent beams 19.

Each ot these uppermost secondary pushers has sides or upwardlyprojecting wings 37 extending' above the level of its *flat bottom andbeyond its rear end, which is formed with a downwardly inclined portionterminating' in a vertical face, being operativelyconnected to itsassociated ram oi."

primary pusher 16 by means of a rod 3S. This is operative in a suitable`@groove in said ram. and has on its forward end an 'adjustable stop 39to provide a lost-motionconnec tion between said two pushers, so thatthe primary pusher will move forwardly in its C'LlSl-' for `a. certainpart ol. its outward stroke before striking'r the stop and throughI therod 38, lforwardly moving the secondary pusher 32.' On its inward strokethe primary7 pusher will similarly at first move by itselt'` pioii'wardly from tbd forward end olE said pusher 38. This bolt, like therod 3S, has an adjustable stop at its forward end so that there is lostmotion between said two pushers '39, and 33, The second secondaryinisher 32? slidably supjraorted on pair of elfi-l projecting; inwardlytrom the adjacent sides of the beams 19, and a third set of' ri .is 44likewise serve to slidably support the third and lowest of the secondarypushers 34, whose rear end rests `upon or .moves immediately adjacentthe top surface of the bottom plate 2G `and is moved by a 'forked lug4.5 and a bolt A4:6 projecting ltorwardly from its front end. This boltlikewise has :in adjustable stop may be l rear Viices downwardly andrearwardly iin-` clined as have also 'the forward portions of the edgesof the wings or sides of said topmost secondary pusher.

olI vsaid secondary ts upon or lies immediately adja-k i "i7 whereby thelost moti-.on between. it aud the pusher 35? llfii 1,443 eos Immediatelyto the rear of and below the line of plates 24 is a transverselyextending series of stepped extension grates 50,' which like the pushersand the series of tuyeres, present a downwardly and rear* wardlyinclined face to the mass of overlying fuel. These grates are mountedupon box-like structures 55, slidably mounted on guides 53 extending atsuitable intervals between the frame members 2 and 3 and each of thesebox members is connected through a relatively heavy rod 56 with an arm57 bolted or otherwise rigidly connected to the lowest of the secondarypushers 34e, whereby said grates are reciprocated.

Each of the rods 56 has fixed to it a pair of stops 58 between which itis engaged by the arm 5T and the position of this latter relatively tothe rod is determined by a series of washers or collars 5Sa insertedbetween it and either of the stops 58'. The extension grates have theirforward edges downwardly flanged. to loosely enterl a transverselyextending groove in the forward upper part of the box structure whereinthey are held by the overhang-ing portions of the plates 24. The lowerand rear edge of the grates is removably locked to a rearwardly extendedportion of the rear side of the box structure 55 so that it is normallyheld thereto until its forward edge is raised out of its groove and thewhole grate swungrearwardly around this part of the box structure as apivot, when it is free to be lifted away from the same. For this purposethe lower end of each box structure is' formed with a rearwardlyprojecting` flange or rib 5la and the rear edge of each grate isprovided with a hook portion 50l positioned to ,cooperate with said ribto normally hold said grate to the box structure.

Adjacent the rear ends of the guide members 53 are transverselyextending structures 54e immediately above the frame members 3 groovedtransversely of the furnace and un dercut for the reception of therearwardly turned edge of the downwardlyv extending flange at the frontof each of a number of plates VWhen the flanges of these plates areplaced in the groove of the guide mein bers 53 and moved rearwardly asfar possible, there is left an elongated recess in which may be placed akey/f' 59 whereby :.,id plates are held in position.

T he frame members 3 have fixed to their webs a series of :rearwardlyextending brackets to which are pivoted dumping grates 6l whose rearedges extend immediately adjacent the bridge wall 'l0 where they arenormally supported upon arms or dogs 62 The latter are hinged orpivotall y mounted on a shaft 63 supported in bearings carried by achannel shaped casing or structure 6e, preferably imbedded in the bridgewall beyond. the vertical face thereof;

A handle 65 attached to this shaft makes it possible to retract the arms62 into the member 64C, thereby leaving the rear edges of the dumpinggrates unsupported and permitting them to drop. lf or raising thedumping` plates and breaking or agitating the ash or clinkers thereon, lsuspend from the frame members 5 a motor in the form of a cylinder 66whose piston 67 through a rod 68 and a link 69 is connected to an arm 70fixed to a transversely extendingvshaft 7l. The latter is carried inbearings supported by the frame members 2 and 3 and has fixed to it anysuitable number of operating arms 72, which through links 73, arepivotally connected to said dumping` grates.

wWith the above described arrangement of parts, fuel is supplied to thehoppers l5 and fluid under pressure is delivered. through suitablepassages in the fixed piston rod 1.8 to the interior of the cylinderpusher 16. The supply and exhaust of this fluid is controlled bysuitable valve mechanism (not shown) so that this ram or primary pusheris reciprocated in the casing le. 0n the forward movement of the ram,fuel falls from the hopper finto the forward end of the casing and theprimary pusher moves rearwardly, it forces said fuel into the mouthpiece 20 and onto the topmost secondary pusher 32 which is shortlyengaged by the lip 35 and is moved with said primary pusher into theretort 2l.

After the secondary pusher 32 has moved rearwardly to a predeterminedextent, its lug` l0 comes into engagement with the second of thesecondary pushers and moves this also toward the rear and it in turn,through the lug 45, engages and moves toward the rear, the lowestsecondary pusher 34; with a section of the extension grate 50. Afterreaching the rear end of its inner stroke, fluid is exhausted from therear end of the cavity of the primary pusher 16 and is admitted to theforward end thereof, so that said pusher moves outwardly. Aftercompleting a portion of its stroke, it engages the stop 39 of the rod 3Sand moves outwardly the secondary puslwr 32, which sively impartsoutward movem lower pushers 33 e Y' associated section of I rlfhisreciprocation or the pi Yers tension grate gradually feeds fuel from thehoppers into the retorts. and insures the de' livery of the ashes leftafter the comluis-iou of said fuel into the pocket formed by theextension grates 50, the dumping plates 6l and thel bridge wall l0, atthe same time causing said grates to exert a crushing ac tion on anyclinkers of solid bodies of ash forming between them and said wall.Obviously the amount of movement imparted to the secondary pushers andextension grates may be adjusted at will by suitable manipulation of thcstops 39, 412 and 47 and also by suitable shifting of the collars orspacers 59 on the rod It is thus possible to increase or diminish`therate at which fuel is fed into and through the retorts and also to makeprovision for the proper feed and treatment of the ash accumulated inthe lower and rear part of the furnace.

By having the wind box extensions defined by the beams 19 and the plates2Ob in positions removed from the front of the stoker structure, anyleakage of air between these parts will take place into the retort andfurnace instead of into the casings 14 and the hoppers 15, as would bethe case if the air under pressure had access to points at orimmediately adjacent the front of the stoker structure.

When it is desired to remove or replace the extension grates 50, the keyholding each of the plates 24 is :firsty removed, thereby making itpossible to move this rearwardly until the lip on its forward edgeclears the rear edge of the bottom plate 25. The removal of one or moreof the plates 211 thereupon uncovers the forward edge of a section of anextension grate 50 which may then be removed by swinging it upwardlyuntil its rear edge clears and may be removed from engagement with therearwardly projecting lip of the part 51 of the box structure When it isdesired to remove one of the plates 52 for the purpose of taking out adump plate, the key 59 is removed and said plate 52 is forced forwardlyuntil its hooked edge clears the overhung edge of the casting 54.Thereupon it may be lifted out of position.

It will be noted that the air in the wind box, in addition to passinginto the mass of overlying fuel through the tuyere openings,

may also flow from said box under the ends of the retorts into andthrough the space defined by the plates 24; and extension grates 50,from whence it passes into the fuel through the openings between saidplates and between and around the extension grates. The flow of thislatter portion of the air is regulated. as desired by suitable rotaryvalves or dampers 7 5 mounted under the rear ends of the retorts betweenthe rear ends of the beams 19. As shown in Fig. 5, the movable elementsof these valves are connected by a series of'rods 76 so that they f maybe simultaneously adjusted -to vary the .flow of air as required by thegreater or less amount of fuel. which reachesthe extension j grates andthe parts of the stoker adjacent thereto. Said movable elements areobviously cut away so that their movement is not interfered with by therods 56.

The frames constituting the guides 53 carry on the lower or under edges,bearings for a shaft 8.0 extending transversely of the stoker andterminating at one side thereof where it has fixed to it an operatingarm S2. This shaft has also fixed to it a plate or series of plates 81which in one position lie against the under side of the guide frames 53,extending between the frame members 2 and 3 so as to form a continuationof the wind box to supply the extension grates with air. Underconditions of use fine coal and ash work through said grates andcollectin this extension wind box, and with the above arrangement ofparts it is possible to periodicallyk rock the shaft 8() in its bearingsby means of the handle 82 so as to swing the plate or plates 81 with aresulting discharge of the material which may have accumulated. Saidplates move between the frames 53 and are normally held in their closedpositions shown.

I claim 1. The combination in an inclined underfeed stoker of tuyres;retorts; a primary pusher for feeding material to each retort; and aplurality of secondary pushers mounted to constitute the bottom of eachretort, one of said latter pushers being positioned to be directlyengaged and moved by the primary pusher when this moves in onedirection.

2. The combination in an inclined underfeed stoker of tuyres; retorts; aprimary pusher for feeding material to each retort; a plurality ofsecondary pushers forming the bottom of each retort, one of said latterpushers being positioned to be directly engaged and moved by the primarypusher when this moves in one direction; with a lost motion connectionbetween said two latter pushers.

3. The combination in an inclined under feed stoker of retorts; meansfor feeding fuel. to and through each retort consisting of a primarypusher, a secondary pusher in the bottom of the retort positioned to bedirectly engaged and moved inwardly by the primaryv pusher; with a rodattached to one of said pushers and having an adjustable lost motionconnection with the other pusher.

4. The combination in an inclined underfeedv stokerof tuyres; retorts;with means for feeding fuel to and through each retort consisting of aprimary pusher; and a pluw rality of superposed secondary pushersarranged in stepped relation and constituting the bottom of the retort,`the upper secondary pusher being positioned to be engaged and moved bythe primary pusher and being reciprocable immediately above the nextlower secondary pusher.

The combination in an inclined underfeed stoker of tuyeres; retorts; afuel supply casing for each retort; a fixed piston in said casing; afuel feeding ram havin a cylindrical cavity cooperating with sai piston'to constitute a Huid motor; a series of opera, tively connected pushersin stepped relation forming the bottom of each retort; with means fortransmitting power from the ram to the pushers including a rod' havingan abutment and operatively connecting one of said pushers and the ramwhen the latter moves in one direction.

6. The combination in an inclined underfeed Stoker of tuyeres;a'plurality of retorts; a fuelsupply casing for each retort; a fixedpiston in said casing; a fuel feeding ram having a cylindrical cavitycooperating with Said piston to constitute a iiuid motor; a series ofoperatively connected pushers in stepped relation forming the bottom ofeach retort; and a rod having an abutment and operatively connectingsaid ram and one of said pushers when the ram moves in one direction,said ram being positioned to engage and move said pusher when moved inthe opposite direction. i

7.' The combination in an inclined underfeed stoker of retorts; tuyres;and means for feeding fuel to and through each retort including aprimary pusher, a series of Secondary pushers arranged in steppedrelation and constituting the bottom of each retort, with adjustablelost motion connections between said secondary pushers, the topmostsecondary pusher being positioned to be directly engaged and moved bythe primary pusher.

8. The combination in an inclined underfeed Stoker of retorts; tuyres;and means for feeding fuel to and through each retort including aprimary pusher, a series of Secondary pushers arranged in steppedrelation and constituting the bottom of each retort, the topmostsecondary pusher being positioned to be directly engaged and moved bythe primary pusher; with adjustable lost motion connections between saidsecondary pushers, and a rod having a stop and arranged to constitute alost motion connection between the topmost secondary pusher and theprimary pusher.

9. The combination in an inclined underfeed Stoker of retorts; means forfeeding fuel to and through each retort including a primary pusher, aseries `of secondary pushers actuated from the primary pusher andarranged in stepped relation; said Secondary pushers being positioned toform the bottom of the retort and having between them lost-motionconnections.

l0. The combination in an inclined underfeed Stoker of retorts; meansfor feeding fuel to and through each retort including a primary pusher,a Series of secondary pushers actuated from the primary pusher andarranged in stepped relation; said secondary puShers being positioned toform the bottom of the retort, and a Series of eXten- Sion gratesreciprocated from the lowest Secondary pushers.

ll. The combination in an inclined underfeed Stoker of retorts; meansfor feeding fuel to and through each of the retorts including a primarypusher a series of secondary pushers actuated from the primary pusherand forming the bottom of the retort, and a series of extension gratesreciprocated from and afljustably connected to the lowest of thesecondary pnshers.

l2. rihe combination in an inclined underfeed stoltcr of ret-erts; meansfor deliverine' fuel to and through each retort consisting of a primarypusher, a Series of secondary pushers arranged to constitute the bottomof each retort and actuated from the primary pusher thereof, certainsaid secondary pushers having projecting lugs, with members on otherpushers respectively engaging said lugs and having adjustable abutmentsnormally arranged to constitute lost motion connections between thepushers.

18. The combination in an inclined underfeed Stoker of a series ofretorts; a series of tuyeres; means for feeding fuel to and through Saidretorts; an extension grate adg jacent the inner ends of the retorts; aseries of plates extending transversely of the Stoker and projectingover the outer edge of the extension grate; a structure removablyengaged by the inner portion of said grate and cooperating with saidplates to normally hold it in position; with means for holding theplates in place.

14. The combination in an inclined underfeed Stoker of series of tuyres;retorts; means for feeding fuel to and through the retorts; a series ofplates extending transversely of the stoker adjacent the lower ends ofthe retorts; means removably holding said plates in position; areciprocable structure below said plates; with an extension grate havingits inner edge removably hooked to Said reciprocable structure andhaving its outer edge extending under Said plates.

l5. The combination in an inclined underfeed Stoker of a series oftuyeres; retorts; means for feeding fuel to and through the retorts; anextension grate mounted below the retorts; a bridge wall; a series ofdumping plates between the grate and the bridge wall; guard platesextending over the forward edges of the dumping plates and under theextension grate; with means for remov' ably locking said guard plates inposition.

16. The combination in an inclined underfeed Stoker of a series oi'tuyres; retorts; means for feeding fuel to and through the retorts; anextension grate mounted below the retorts; a bridge wall; a Series ofdumping plates between the grates and the bridge wall; guard platesextending over the forward edges of the dumping plates and under theextension grate and including hooked portions; with means for removablylocking said guard plates in position, the same consisting of undercutfixed structures formed to receive the hooked portions of said guardplates, with a key normally holding said hooked portions in theirengaged position.

17. The combination in an inclined underfeed stokerof an enclosingsetting; a. wind box; substantially parallel members, definingalternated retorts and wind box extensions; tuyeres mounted to receiveair from said extensions; means for delivering` fuel tothe retorts; andtransverse plates cutting off the forward ends of the wind boxextensions from the front of the` sett-ing.

y 18. T he combination in an inclined underfeed stoker of an enclosingsetting' including a front plate; a wind box; pairs of plate,

brackets extending inwardly from the front plate; vertically set beamsextending rearwardly from the brackets; platesy extending transverselybetween pairs of said beams to the rear of the front plate and coactingwith the beams to define windbox extensions whose forward ends arespaced away from the front of the Stoker; tuyres positioned to receiveair from the windbox extensions; and means for feeding fuel to andthrough the retorts.

19. The combinationin an inclined underfeed stoker of a front structure;a wind box; a structure defining alternated retorts and windboxextensions, of which the latter' consisting of series of superposedsecondary p pushers respectively forming the bottoms of said. retortsand primary pushers forrespectively actuating the series of secondarypusliers.

A 21. The combination in an inclined underfeed Stoker ofretorts; andmeans for feed'- ing fuel to andl through each` retort includ.-

ing; a primary pusher and a series of mov-r able secondarypushersforming the bottom of each retort and adjustable relatively toeach other. i v

MAXWELL ALI-)lilllr

